Self-Lacing Sneakers To Hit The Market In November

By John Kuroski on September 21, 2016

Well, I guess we can’t blame Nike for being just one year late.

In 1989, Back to the Future II showed us a vision of 2015 that included astounding self-lacing sneakers that many surely thought would never come to pass. Lo and behold, 2015 came and went with no such sneakers.

But now, after much speculation and development, Nike has confirmed that they’ve actually built legitimately self-lacing sneakers, the HyperAdapt 1.0, and set a release date of this November (price not yet announced).

So, how did they do it?

The inside of the sneaker is wrapped with an internal cable system made of fishing line that is hooked up to a pressure sensor in the sole. When you place your foot on the sole, the sensor uses an “algorithmic pressure equation” to spring the cables/laces into action and tighten them.

Lest you’re worried about a rogue sneaker over-tightening and attempting to rip off your foot, the pressure/tightness can be adjusted with a pair of buttons near the sneaker’s tongue.

As if that wasn’t enough, while the sneakers are tightening, vibrant LEDs in the heel and outer sole light up. Of course, all of this means that HyperAdapt owners will have to charge their sneakers (although, Nike claims, one three-hour charge lasts about two weeks).

And while, even in 2016, self-lacing sneakers may still seem like a thing of the future, the notion that we now have to charge yet another of our daily-use items feels very 2016 indeed.